STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1644

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 568, 726, 727

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 568, 726, and 727, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan

 

G.M. No. 568

MICHAEL OKUMOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 726

KENNETH VILLABRILLE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017; and

 

G.M. No. 727

BRIAN MOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Michael Okumoto, Kenneth Villabrille, and Brian Moto to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

MICHAEL OKUMOTO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Michael Okumoto from the Department of Human Resources Development; Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan; Finance Department, County of Hawaii; and seven individuals.

 

     Mr. Okumoto earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Coe College and received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Wyoming.  He currently serves as the County of Hawaii Treasurer where his major duties include the cash management and investment of county funds and issuance and administration of general obligation and improvement district bonds.  He previously served as a Commercial Loan Officer and Branch Manager at various Bank of Hawaii branch locations in Hilo and Kailua-Kona and on Oahu.

 

     Mr. Okumoto is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Hawaii Air National Guard where he served as the Chief of Maintenance for the 201st Combat Communications Squadron.  He also served in the United State Air Force as a Budget Officer at March Air Force Base in California and as a Missile Launch Officer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

 

     Mr. Okumoto has served as an interim appointee on the Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan since July 2, 2012.  Testimony in support of his nomination indicates that he has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the Deferred Compensation Plan, diligently attended all board meetings, and faithfully fulfilled his fiduciary responsibilities to the Deferred Compensation Plan and its participants.  His professional background and experience as the Treasurer of the County of Hawaii enables him to represent neighbor island interests and concerns well.

 

KENNETH VILLABRILLE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Kenneth Villabrille from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Human Resources Development, Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan, and three individuals.

 

     Mr. Villabrille earned his Bachelor in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he also minored in Finance.  He currently serves as the Central Payroll Accountant in the Accounting Division of the Department of Finance of the County of Kauai where he is responsible for providing centralized accounting and financial reporting for all county operations and preparing an action plan and recommendations in response to all audit findings.  He previously served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Villabrille's nomination indicates that his thirty years of experience in the areas of accounting and finance will be beneficial assets for the Board of Trustees.  As a Trustee from a neighbor-island county government, he will bring a fresh perspective that will help complement the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of the Trustees currently serving on the Board.  His appointment will further expand the depth and broad representation of the Trustees with his background in county government, state government, accounting, and finance, and he will be an advocate for public employees' interests.

 

BRIAN MOTO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Brian Moto from the Department of Budget and Finance, Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan, and one individual.

 

     Mr. Moto earned his Bachelor in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with high honors.  He received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Michigan Law School.  He later received his Certificate in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, and his Master of Arts in Religion from the Yale Divinity School where he graduated magna cum laude.  He is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and is an inactive member of the New York State Bar Association.

 

     Mr. Moto currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Chancellor for the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii Maui College.  His major responsibilities include assisting the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui College in all aspects of the management of the College, its faculty, staff, and students, and programs and activities; assisting in matters concerning the College and its relations with the University of Hawaii System and other United States and foreign institutions of higher learning; and assisting in work relating to the University of Hawaii Foundation, Academic Senate, Chancellor's Advisory Council, University of Hawaii Maui College Executive Committee, Student Life, academic program advisory committees, and other campus organizations and committees.

 

     Mr. Moto has extensive experience at the Department of Corporation Counsel of the County of Maui.  He previously served as Corporation Counsel of the County of Maui where his major responsibilities included serving as chief legal advisor and legal representative of the County of Maui and advising and representing the Mayor, the County Council, county departments, boards and commissions, and county officers and employees in matters relating to their official duties.  Prior to his appointment as Corporation Counsel, he served as First Deputy Corporation Counsel, Deputy Corporation Counsel, and Law Clerk.

 

     Mr. Moto has extensive community involvement.  He serves as President of the Maui AJA Veterans, Inc.; Trustee of the Maui Historical Society Bailey House Museum; Member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Maui; Member of the Board of Directors of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center; and President of the Board of Directors of Ebb & Flow Arts, to name a few.  He serves as a Eucharistic Minister for St. John's Episcopal Church in Kula.  He is also involved in organizations such as Catholic Charities Hawaii Maui Advisory Board; Mantokuji Soto Mission of Paia, Maui; Maui High School Foundation; Rotary Club of Maui; Maui Fukushima Kenjin Kai; and Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Moto's nomination indicates that he has demonstrated a thorough understanding and background in government operations and has a high aptitude for investments and matters of finance.  His thoroughness and analytical skills will help the Board of Trustees to be deliberative in executing the most appropriate plan designs for the benefit of the participants of the Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

     Accordingly, based on the testimony submitted, your Committee finds that Michael Okumoto, Kenneth Villabrille, and Brian Moto are exceptionally qualified to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan.  The nominees' professional experience will serve the Board and public well.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair